The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-30
WESTERN MISSIONARY WORK.

The Boston Universalist ministers
for two weeks past, has had
underconsideration the missionary work
Of our church. 1t is a significant sign
of the substantial unity of our denom-
ination, that in Boston, and in COM
pany of Eastern clergymen, the subject
Of "Our Home Missions was discuss
ed with special reference to the needs
of our cause in the West. At the
first meeting, Rev. G. E. Rice, of East
Cambridge, read paper. The Leader
reports:
Mr.. Rice gave the statistics in proof
that not only does empire move West
it is already in the West. In popula-
ton and in wealth the West will soon
dominate the East. Mission Stations
in Boston would be well but the West
is ''the field" There is no occasion to
leave this work to the General Conven-
ton. Let the parishes indirectly and
collectively act.
feasible point. BY right endeavor a
church can be planted in that distant
city. Why will not the parishes in and
near Boston take the matter in hand !?
The essayist pledged his own parish for
fifty dollars. If all will do the same,
the total needful for the work can be
easily raised.
The suggestion of the essayist met
with favorable responses from the
brethren. Drs. Miner and Patterson,
Revs. Messrs. KERN, Lewis, Codding-
ton and others endorsed the proposition.
The trend of the discussion was prac-
tically in favor of some movement in
the direction of the Western field. 1t
was urged, however, that the demands
of the State work, present and future,
be not neglected; and that whatever
was done should be done through our
General Convention. The Convention
is the ''body'' that has our missionary
work in charge. We should not adopt
any other fundamentally at present
for the prosecution of the work. From
these suggestions there was no dissent
expressed.
No matter what the result of this
earnest discussion may be, it is whole
some and profitable for the missionary
work of the church to be considered on
this broad basis of existing needs and
opportunities, without reference to To-
cal or State boundaries. Our church is
one church, and whatever advances it's
interest, and helps it's progress is right
fully considered as part of the COM
mon work. To find that Boston is in
terested in an opportunity at Omaha,
and that the brethren are willing to
bend their energies toward the estab-
lishment of our work in that city, is
the specially encouraging feature in the
present discussion. When this spirit
dominates the entire church, and the
missionary work is surveyed on these
broad lines, irrespective of the calls
nearer home, substantial prosperity and
progress all along the line will be the
result.
We deem it our duty, however, to
say to the brethren interested in Oma-
ha, that on several occasions, attention
has been directed to the establishment
of Universalist parish in that already
great and growing city. The ground
has been carefully examined and the
prospect surveyed. While it is true of
Omaha, as it is also true Of dozen
prominent points in the Northwest,
that parish can be established on a
successful basis, it will require very
large expenditure yearly, for several
years, to make such a parish self sup
porting. We give it as our opinion
that not less than So 900 is needed for
the first years work. II this amount
can be placed at the disposal of the
General Convention for beginning at
Omaha, no doubt the work can be in
augurated. This is the estimate that
those who are on the ground, and who
have studied the situation, deem neces-
sary. We need enter into no detailed
explanation, but from the best informa-
ton obtainable, the sum we have named
is the smallest amount with which the
movement can be successfully inaugur-
ated. Can this SO, 900 be raised for the
Omaha work ? This is the question
all-important, for consideration at this
juncture of affairs.